Arsenal, Aston Villa, Brighton, London City Lionesses and Manchester City finished top of the FA Women’s Continental Tyres League Cup groups.
GROUP A: Blackburn Rovers 3-0 Sheffield United, Sunderland 0-7 Aston Villa
GROUP B: Leicester City 5-1 Everton, Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United
GROUP C: London City Lionesses 2-1 Crystal Palace, Watford P-P Lewes
GROUP D: Reading 0-6 Arsenal
GROUP E: Birmingham City 2-1 West Ham United, Charlton Athletic 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion
Aston Villa thrashed Sunderland 7-0 away from home to win the Group A decider. Villa had six different scorers in Alisha Lehmann, Jordan Nobbs, Rachel Corsie, Ebony Salmon, Simone Magill and Adriana Leon, while Natasha Fenton conceded an own-goal. Blackburn Rovers leapfrogged Sheffield United, beating them 3-0 with a five-minute Lucy Shepherd double added to by Lauren Thomas.
Manchester City took the Group B top spot from Manchester United, whom they beat 2-1. Lauren Hemp set up the opener for Chloe Kelly before doubling the lead herself, Nikita Parris replying but deep into added time. Mark Skinner’s side finished second, one point ahead of Leicester City who put five past Everton. The Foxes scored through Sam Tierney, Deanne Rose, a Shannon O’Brien penalty, Jutta Rantala and Missy Goodwin, before Hanna Bennison’s late consolation for Everton.
London City Lionesses lad lost at home to Crystal Palace in the Championship on Sunday but responded with a 2-1 defeat of the Eagles, to replace them at the top of the Group C table. Elise Hughes put Palace in front but Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah hit back with a seven-minute brace.
Arsenal hit Reading for six to take Group D ahead of Spurs, who visit Southampton this evening. Stina Blackstenius struck a hat-trick, Caitlin Foord, Laia Codina and Beth Mead also finding the net, while Leah Williamson made her return from nine months out injured.
Brighton made it three wins from three in Group E with a 2-1 result at Charlton. Jorelyn Carabali and Tatiana Pinto scored for Albion, Kayleigh Green pulling one back in stoppage time. Championship side Birmingham City sent West Ham to a 2-1 defeat, Lily Agg and Martha Harris on target before an injury-time reply by Riko Ueki.
The quarter-final draw will be made on Friday 26 January at 6.30pm, live on BBC One, with ties to be played on 7 / 8 February. Chelsea will be among the eight side, with the two best group runners-up yet to be decided.
Fixture for Thursday 25 January
GROUP D – Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur (Eastleigh FC, 7.45pm)
